![underrated nba players early 2000s antawn jamison](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/v95eh81lomnhsjedhlmz/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-antawn-jamison.png?downsize=700%3A%2A&output-quality=auto&output-format=auto)
DeMar DeRozan is having an incredible season. Nine seasons into his career, the former USC Trojan has finally found his stride and established himself as one of the NBA’s top guards.
DeRozan may be cementing his status as the best player in franchise history in front of our eyes, but say he belongs in the MVP conversation and most NBA fans will laugh at you. Even Basketball-Reference.com doesn’t give the man a prayer. This is the plight of DeMar DeRozan—he’s criminally underrated, and probably will be for his entire career.
Fans have a tendency to overlook certain players, and that effect is amplified as years and decades pass. Think about Dennis Johnson of the 1980s—the dude was a five-time All-Star and a Finals MVP. Mitch Richmond, Detlef Schrempf, and Vin Baker are among the underrated players from the ’90s.
And when it comes to the 2000s, well, there are plenty of guys who deserved more love. A small core of teams dominated the league in that era. As a result, a number of quality players had their careers pass without ever getting exposure on the highest level.
Even some players who did make it onto that stage, like Rashard Lewis and Richard Hamilton, aren’t remembered as reverently as they should be. Some players on this list, like Mehmet Okur and Doug Christie, are, sadly, likely unknown to the young NBA fans of today. Others, like Vince Carter and Joe Johnson, are still kicking around the league, but young fans are probably unaware of just how dominant they used to be.
Of course, we couldn’t account for everyone who deserves to be on this list, but below are the most underrated NBA players of the early 2000s.
Elton Brand
![underrated nba players early 2000s elton brand](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/g1o7vgt3hdzbyks5pj7v/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-elton-brand.png?downsize=700%3A%2A&output-quality=auto&output-format=auto)
Baron Davis
![underrated nba players early 2000s baron davis](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/eea3ockbrvrpli3hbgxm/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-baron-davis.png)
Stephen Jackson
![underrated nba players early 2000s stephen jackson](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/d5lfdtbezftgf5uuoz3v/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-stephen-jackson.png)
Vince Carter
![underrated nba players early 2000s vince carter](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/zaunh6mb8dyrr2lfzzqo/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-vince-carter.png)
Jermaine O’Neal
![underrated nba players early 2000s jermaine o neal](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/vprztxp8xfejgoa9poiq/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-jermaine-o-neal.png)
Joe Johnson
![underrated nba players early 2000s joe johnson](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/sb1jyryvbzd59c2iiwnh/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-joe-johnson.png)
Peja Stojakovic
![underrated nba players early 2000s peja stojakovic](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/mzr9fwwjthhegbxlwwh4/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-peja-stojakovic.png)
Rashard Lewis
![underrated nba players early 2000s rashard lewis](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/mvlucssnj2te5jouxnya/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-rashard-lewis.png)
Andrei Kirilenko
![underrated nba players early 2000s andrei kirilenko](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/eda9ffclcjsu4jwlfcvq/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-andrei-kirilenko.png)
Shawn Marion
![underrated nba players early 2000s shawn marion](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/shq2bakgvszzs0te325s/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-shawn-marion.png)
Mehmet Okur
![underrated nba players early 2000s mehmet okur](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/fg62gcxms6yazlwa0ufi/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-mehmet-okur.png)
Michael Redd
![underrated nba players early 2000s michael redd](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/tf8kpjsfjcq9izss5lpc/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-michael-redd.png)
Sam Cassell
![underrated nba players early 2000s sam cassell](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/qw4nnfg2r9ntmjsqqwnl/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-sam-cassell.png)
Caron Butler
![underrated nba players early 2000s caron butler](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/zfzw3rlxyxmrlh3embyr/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-caron-butler.png)
Kevin Martin
![underrated nba players early 2000s kevi martin](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/jseo0bjmyrh2kqka2ygw/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-kevi-martin.png)
Richard Hamilton
![underrated nba players early 2000s richard hamilton](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/pupwj0fst3p3tqjurnsk/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-richard-hamilton.png)
Doug Christie
![underrated nba players early 2000s doug christie](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/jltwk76mlr9x5tonrehj/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-doug-christie.png)
Mike Bibby
![underrated nba players early 2000s mike bibby](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/fr6tqgixbluyjzwsjsd3/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-mike-bibby.png)
Antawn Jamison
![underrated nba players early 2000s antawn jamison](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/v95eh81lomnhsjedhlmz/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-antawn-jamison.png)
Chauncey Billups
![underrated nba players early 2000s chauncey billups](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/lublwgvjdb003mh5hax8/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-chauncey-billups.png)
Andre Miller
![underrated nba players early 2000s andre miller](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/clpuaipj9omnlqowcsaw/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-andre-miller.png)
Metta World Peace
![underrated nba players early 2000s metta world peace](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/hdmgcijojpeaa8egg1xh/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-metta-world-peace.png)
Brad Miller
![underrated nba players early 2000s brad miller](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/c8fuags5unne31zaezr0/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-brad-miller.png)
Michael Finley
![underrated nba players early 2000s michael finley](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/fvoj7y5nazl4ywnvqxhc/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-michael-finley.png)
Marcus Camby
![underrated nba players early 2000s marcus camby](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/cobry6rdm0ce86sizqlk/underrated-nba-players-early-2000s-marcus-camby.png)